By Jamie White – Head of Communications

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has completed its £450m takeover of UK television broadcaster Channel 5.

The deal was initially agreed with Richard Desmond’s Northern and Shell Media Group in May this year, but has now finally been confirmed waiting for clearance from the European Commission.

It means the American media firm will now have a firm foothold in the UK market, and has already announced a series of joint commissions between Channel 5 and UK pay TV channels.

VIMN owns many of the world’s most popular multimedia brands including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, Paramount Channel and VH1.

One of the new scheduled programmes is a new reality survival series called 10,000 BC which will see 20 men and women give up the luxuries of modern day life. Ten one-hour episodes have been commissioned for 2015.

Philippe Dauman, Viacom President and CEO, said: “We are committed to strengthening Channel 5’s status as one of UK broadcasting’s premier brands, and we will continue to grow the network’s pipeline of original programming with more quality commissions, as well as acquisitions.”

Follow mystery shopping and performance improvement company, Douglas Stafford:

on Twitter @DouglasStafford

on Facebook facebook.com/douglasstafforduk